This
novel, inspired by the events of the L.A. Riots in 1992, interweaves stories and points of view in a cinematic way (think CRASH or
SYRIANA) with the authenticity of actual events told the lens of Gattis’
multi-cultural cast. It makes a wonderful copansion piece to Anna Deavere
Smith’s TWILIGHT, her one-woman, multi-character theater piece about the L.A.
riots that erupted in the wake of the verdict in the Rodney King case.
And while much of the L.A. riot coverage
focused on the clashes between the African-American and Korean communities,
this novel also gives us a snapshot of one complicated extended Hispanic family
(both blood family and gang affiliations). Gattis has done a terrific job of
getting inside the heads of his characters, particularly Lupe (aka Payasa). .
The
characters here are complex and mostly sympathetic, and the adage “Live by the
gun, die by the gun” has never seemed so apt.
There’s
not a whole lot of story here, but what there is, is absorbing. The plot has a
lot of different threads that are woven together, with unexpected connections
every step of the way. This is a lot like CRASH, and it’s visceral. No one group is singled out as the good or
bad guys and Gattis does a terrific job giving us viewpoints from all different
directions.
